Speed changing device for spinning frames



March 1952 T. G. RAYFIELD SPEED CHANGING DEVICE FOR SPINNING FRAMES 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Feb. 1'7, 1951 ATTORNEY) March 1952 T. G. RAYFIELDV SPEED CHANGING DEVICE FOR SPINNING FRAMES 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 17, 1951 INVENTOR.

n/o/vms a. RAH-151.0

Arron-"Era Patented Mar. 4, 1952 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SPEED CHANGING DEVICE FOR SPINNING FRAMES Thomas G. Rayfield, Greenville, S. 0.

Application February 17, 1951, Serial No.211,50 3

Th-is invention relates to drive mechanisms for spinning frames and particularly to a device for accelerating the speed of aspinning frame throughout the course of the doff or operation.

It is well known that in the operation of a spinning frame, the speed is limited by the tendency of the windings to break, due to the tension on the yarn at the spindle. This tension bears a direct relation to the angle formed by the yarn between the traveler and the spindle. At the beginning of the operation or doif, this angle is relatively large and the tension on the yarn is correspondingly large, with the result that the tendency to break is greater. As the yarn package builds up on the carrier, this angle is reduced and the pull on the yarn is correspondingly reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the winding speed as the size of the yarn package grows, the permissible increase being even greater than that which results from the increased diameter of the package. Attempts have been made to increase the spindle speed by various means, but to the extent that such means have been described in the prior art, they are complicated and have been entirely unsuccessful. M It is known that there are drive mechanisms for spinning frames which permit the alteration of spinning speeds, but such devices are adapted to be set at one maximum allowable speed for the particular type of yarn and the operating conditions; No provision is made for increasing the spindle speed as the winding operation progresses. This speed is the maximum speedallowable in theinitial stages of the doff, f In accordance with the present invention, there is now provided a means for gradually increasing "the speed of a spinning frame throughout the "course of the deli so that it is operated at a finaximum speed allowable at all times. As a consequence the output of a spinning frame is increased appreciably. The construction and operation of the device or the present invention will be more fully ex- :plained in connection with the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation showing one end of a spinning frame with a variable speed drive mechanism and the device of the present 7 Claims. (01. 57-95,)

, 4 2 invention for altering the setting of this dril mechanism to increase the speed of the frame;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the inner end of the present device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front view of the end of the present device shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the working parts of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular at first to Fig. 1, a conventional spinning frame includes a head member 6, one or more spindles 8, a reciprocating ring rail Ill, a main shaft l2, and driving means [4. The spindles 8 are driven by means of belts or cords l6 which operate from cylinder [8, which is: driven by main shaft [2. A cross arm 20 is operatively associated with main shaft 12 in such a way that it is rocked about its axis to move attached lifting arm 22, which in turn reciprocates the lifting rods (not shown) which support: and actuate ring rail ID. All the foregoing isconventional in a spinning frame and the present disclosure will not be burdened by more detailed description thereof.

As explained, it is conventional to adjust the speed of a spinning frame in accordance with the type of yarn and the particular operating conditions. One means for accomplishing this is to provide a drive-control between driving mechanism It and the main shaft [2 by the use of cooperating sheaves which are so constructed that their effective diameters can be increased or reduced as desired to produce the proper relation between their effective diameters to efiect the desired spinning speed. In this type of mechanism, a driven sheave 23 mounted on main shaft I2, consists of a fixed conical disc 24 and an axially slideable disc 26, which is yieldingly urged toward fixed disc 24 by appropriate biasing means (not shown). The drive sheave 25 consists of a fixed conical disc 28, mounted on the drive shaft 30 and a cooperating axially slideable disc 32, which is movable toward or away from fixed disc 28 by means of a shifting yoke 34, which is pivoted at its lower end and which is associated with axially slideable disc 32 in such a way that rotation thereof is unimpeded while axial movement is controlled as desired. If the disc 32 is shifted toward fixed disc 28 on drive shaft 30, the efifective diameter of the drive sheave 25 is increased and belt 36, which actuates driven sheave 23, moves slideable disc 26 away from fixed disc 24, thereby reducing the efiective diameter of driven sheave '23 and, consequently, increasing its rotational speed. The present invention provides means for conveniently and controllably moving shifting yoke 34 so that the effective diameter of the drive sheave 25 is gradually increased throughout the course of the deli.

This invention includes a shifting screw 38 which has a threaded engagement intermediate its end with shifting yoke 34, as at 48. This shifting screw 38 is supported at its ends by a bracket 42, adjacent its outer end, and by a bearing member'44 secured to the inner side of end member 6 through which shifting screw 38 extends for a short distance. The extendin inner end of screw 38 carries a ratchet wheel 46 and a pawl carrier 48, which is mounted for rotation about shifting screw 38. A driving pawl Y 58 is carried at the outer end 'of pawl carrier pending on the specific operating conditions. Increasing the spinning speed throughout the operation is particularly advantageous in spinning warp yarns, wherein the package is built on the carrier throughout its permissible length. It is also advantageous in winding filling yarns, some increase in the winding speed being likewise permissible here.

The device of the present invention provides a simple, yet sure, means of eifecting'the desired acceleration and also provides means for easily and accurately controlling the amount of acceleration and its rate.

I claim:

1. In a spinning frame having a spindle, a reciprocating ring rail, a main shaft adapted to rotate said spindle and reciprocate said ring rail,

drive means, and a variable speed drive interposed between said drive'means and said main shaft and incorporating an axially expansible driven sheave mounted on said main shaft, an axially 48 in a manner to engage ratchet wheel 46 so that shifting screw 38 is intermittently rotated by alternating driving and return strokes of pawl carrier 48. Spring 52 urges pawl 58 into engagement with ratchet wheel 48.

Reverse rotation of ratchet wheel 46 is pre- "vented by means of a. detent 54 which is mounted on detent support 56 adjacent ratchet wheel 46 and which is yieldingly urged into engagement therewith by means of spring 58, which is carried on detent support 56 and ratchet release arm 60 with which detent 54 is associated. Depression of ratchet release arm 68 effects disengagement of detent 54 with ratchet wheel 46 and likewise disengagement of pawl 58, a boss 62 being provided on pawl 58 for actuating engagement with release arm 68.

Alternate driving and return strokes are impartedto pawl carrier 48 by means of a connectby setting these collars Ill and 12 to engage ex-.

tending arm 68 at any stage of its rocking cycle. The shifting screw 38 is thus rotated through a predetermined arc with each reciprocation of ring .rail l8.

. In addition to the means just described for controlling the rotation of screw 38, the return strokes pcan be stopped at any desired stage by appropriately setting stop 14, which is rigidly sercured to bearing member 44 by means of set screw 16 to engage pawl carrier 48, as at 18.

I, After the completion of the winding operation, the driving sheave is reset at its smallest effective diameter by depressing the ratchet release 68 to v.eifect disengagement of detent 54 and pawl 50 and reversely rotating shifting screw 38 by means of hand wheel 80. For any series of operations, the minimum effective diameter of the driving sheave can be controlled by a proper setting of the shifting yoke-stop 82, which may convenientlyconsist of a pair of lock nuts on the threaded portion of shifting screw 38.

It is obvious from the foregoing description that the device of the present invention provides a means whereby the acceleration of the spinning f ame n b et a v ny p mi i le ra e, dc,-

expansible drive sheave mounted on said drive sheave, and a shifting lever adapted for expanding and closing said drive sheave, the improvement which comprises means for controlling said variable speed drive and thereby uniformly increasing the spindle speed throughout the doif, said means comprising a rotatable shifting screw mounted adjacent said drive sheave and having a threaded engagement with said shifting lever, a ratchet wheel on said screw, a pawl carrier mounted on said screw, a driving pawl mounted on said carrier for engagement with said ratchet Wheel, and means imparting to said pawl carrier alternate working and return strokes in response to the reciprocations of said ring rail, whereby said shifting screw is intermittently and uniformly rotated and the effective diameter of said drive sheave is gradually increased to increase the speed of said spindle. p p

2. In a spinning frame including a rotating spindle, a reciprocating ring rail, a rocking cross arm associated with said ring rail, a main shaft for operating said spindle, ring rail and cross arm,

means for driving said main shaft, and a variable speed drive interposed between said drive means and said main shaft and incorporating an expansible driven sheave mounted on the main shaft, an expansible drive sheave mountedon said driving means for operative association with said driven sheave, and shifting-means for expanding and closing said drive sheave to reduce and increase its effective diameter, the improvement comprising means for controlling said variable speed drive in relation to the operation of said spinning frame and thereby intermittently and gradually increasing the effective diameter of said drive sheave throughout the doff, said control means comprising a shifting screw mounted for rotation and having threaded engagement with said shiftturn strokes, whereby said shifting screw is intermittently rotated to close said drive sheave and increase the effective diameter thereof; increasing the speed of said spindle. I

3. In a spinning frame including a] rotating (spindle eq mzqcei s.., sgrail..ega e d it arranged to operate said spindle and ring rail, a drive shaft, and a variable speed drive interposed between said drive shaft and said main shaft and incorporating an expansible driven sheave mounted on said main shaft, an expansible drive sheave mounted on said drive shaft and operatively associated with said driven sheave, and means for adjusting said drive sheave to alter its effective diameter, the improvement which comprises means for controlling said variable speed drive in relation to the operation of said spinning frame and thereby gradually and uniformly increasing the spinning speed during the doff, said means comprising a shaft having a threaded engagement with the adjusting means for said drive sheave, a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft, a shifting pawl carried on said shaft and associated with said ratchet wheel, and means imparting alternate driving and return strokes to said pawl in response to the reciprocations of said ring rail to rotate said shaft and shift said adjusting means to increase the effective diameter of said drive sheave, whereby the speed of said spindle is correspondingly increased.

4. In a spinning frame having a rotating spindle, a reciprocating ring rail, a main shaft arranged to operate said spindle and ring rail, a drive shaft, and a variable speed drive interposed between said drive shaft-and main shaft and including an axially expansible driven sheave mounted on said main shaft with means yieldingly resisting the expansion of said sheave, an axially expansible drive sheave mounted on said drive shaft in operative association with said driven sheave, and a shifting lever adapted to effect expansion of said drive sheave, the improvement which comprises means for controlling said variable speed drive by moving said shifting lever in timed relation with the reciprocation of said ring rail, said control means comprising a rotatable threaded shaft mounted in generally parallel relation with said drive shaft and having a threaded engagement with said shifting lever, a ratchet wheel fixed on said threaded shaft, a pawl carrier mounted for rocking on said threaded shaft adjacent said ratchet wheel, a driving pawl mounted on said carrier,

and means imparting to said pawl carrier alternating working and return strokes in timed relation with the reciprocations of said ring rail, whereby said shifting lever is caused by the rotation of said threaded shaft to adjust said expansible pulley for increasing its effective diameter and thereby increasing the speed of the main shaft.

5. In a spinning frame having a reciprocating ring rail, a driven shaft, a driven sheave comprising a pair of axially adjustable conical discs mounted on said driven shaft with means yieldingly urging said discs together, a drive shaft, a drive sheave comprising a fixed conical disc and an associated axially movable conical disc, and variable means for shifting said movable disc toward and away from said fixed disc, the improvement which comprises means for controlling said variable speed means in relation to the operation of said spinning frame and thereby gradually and uniformly actuating said shifting means to move said movable disc toward said fixed disc to increase the effective diameter of said drive sheave and correspondingly increase the speed of said spinning frame during the doff, said means comprising a rotatable shifting screw extending from said shifting means in a direction generally parallel with the drive shaft and threadedly engaged with said shifting means, a ratchet wheel secured to said screw, a pawl carrier mounted for rocking on said screw adjacent said ratchet wheel, a driving pawl mounted on said pawl carrier and adapted to rotate said ratchet wheel, and means responsive to the reciprocations of said ring rail for actuating said driving pawl whereby said screw is intermittently rotated for shifting the axially movable disc of said drive sheave toward the fixed disc thereof and thereby increasing the effective diameter of said drive sheave for increasing the speed of said spinning frame.

6. In a spinning frame including a rotating spindle, a reciprocating ring rail, a main shaft arranged to operate said spindle and ring rail, a driven sheave comprising a, pair of cooperating conical discs mounted on said main shaft for relative axial movement and means yieldingly urging said discs together, a drive shaft, a drive sheave mounted thereon in operative association with said driven sheave and comprising a fixed conical disc and a movable cooperating conical disc mounted for axial movement with respect thereto, and a variable speed shifting member adapted for shifting said movable disc axially with respect to said fixed disc and thereby ad justing the effective diameter of said drive sheave, the improvement which comprises means for controlling said variable speed shifting member in shifting said movable disc toward said fixed disc during the course of the doff, said control means comprising a rotatable screw threadedly engaging said shifting member and disposed parallel to said drive shaft, a ratchet wheel mounted on said screw, a pawl carrier mounted for rocking on said screw adjacent said ratchet wheel, a driving pawl mounted on said carrier, and means for moving said pawl carrier in response to the reciprocations of said ring rail whereby saidscrew is rotated for actuating said shifting member to shift said movable conical disc toward said fixed disc and thereby increase the effective diameter of said drive sheave whereby the speed of said main shaft is gradually increased during the doff.

'7. In a spinning frame including a rotating spindle, a reciprocating ring rail, a main shaft arranged to operate said spindle and ring rail, a driven sheave comprising a pair of cooperating conical discs mounted on said main shaft for relative axial movement and means yieldingly urging said discs together, a drive shaft, a drive sheave mounted thereon in operative association with said driven sheave and comprising a fixed conical disc and a movable cooperating conical disc mounted for axial movement with respect thereto, and a variable speed shifting member adapted for shifting said movable disc axially with respect to said fixed disc and thereby adjusting the effective diameter of said drive sheave, the improvement which comprises means for controlling said variable speed shifting member in shifting said movable disc toward said fixed disc during the course of the doff, said control means comprising a rotatable screw threadedly engaging said shifting member and disposed generally parallel to said drive shaft, a ratchet wheel mounted on said screw for rotation therewith, a pawl carrier mounted for rocking on said screw, a driving pawl mounted on said carrier, means driving said pawl carrier in response to the reciprocations of said ring rail whereby said screw is rotated for actuating said 8 97 7 shifting member to shift said movable conical REFERENCES CITED disc toward said fixed disc and increase the ef- The following references are of record in the fective diameter of said drive sheave whereby the file of this patent: speed of said main shaft is gradually increased during the dofi, a detent associated with said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS ratchet wheel to prevent reverse rotation thereof, Number Name Date means for effecting simultaneous disengagement 1,985,851 Brooks et a1 Dec. 25, 1934 of said detent and said driving pawl from said 2,096,339 Reeves Oct. 19, 1937 ratchet wheel, and means for reversely rotating 2,109,247 Clay Feb. 22, 1938 said ratchet wheel to reset said control means 10 2,161,054 Jepson June 6, 1939 upon completion of the doff.

THOMAS G. RAYFIELD. 

